Golf Blog

Northern California Golf Getaway for Mom and Dad

We love our kids, but sometimes all parents need a relaxing, rejuvinating getaway.

If golf is something the two of you have in common, the Livermore Valley Wine Country Championship At Wente Vineyards, near the San Francisco Bay area, may be just what you need.

Northern California’s premier golf, food and wine event returns to The Course At Wente Vineyards March 31-April 6, when the Nationwide Tour makes its only stop in the greater Bay Area. Besides hosting the best field of professional golfers to visit the Bay Area in 2008, the Wine Country Championship also will feature gourmet food and wine tasting each day.

Founded in 1883, Wente Vineyards, located near Livermore, California, is the country’s oldest continuously operated family-owned winery. Owned and managed today by the fourth and fifth generations of the Wente family, the winery draws from nearly 3,000 acres of estate vineyards located in the Livermore Valley and Arroyo Seco regions of California.

Visitors to the area can choose from resort accommodations at the Purple Orchid Inn Resort & Spa,  or a variety of hotels in and around Livermore.

Experience professional golf that's as good as any you'll see on the PGA Tour, without the throngs of people, all while enjoying great food, wine and a beautiful landscape.

Rocky Gap Lodge and Golf Resort

It's hard to believe, but at the base of Western Maryland's Evitts Mountain, in the Rocky Gap State Park,  sits the only Jack Nicklaus Signature Course in the state, the Golden Bear at Rocky Gap Lodge and Golf Resort.

The absence of other Maryland golf courses holding the Jack Nicklaus Signature Course distinction is testimony to the difficulty of obtaining the title.  The course has recently obtained multiple awards, such as the 2006 "Greens of Distinction," Corporate and Incentive Travel,  2007 "4-Star," Golf Digest, and 2007/2008 Zagat's "Best Places to Play."

As with a growing number of golf resorts these days, golf isn't the only thing you get.  This month, Wine Enthusiast magazine gave the resort it's coveted Award of Distinction.  The the resort's Lakeside Restaurant earned Wine Enthusiast's praise by being one of the country's most wine-friendly restaurants. 

In addition to the championship golf course and fine dining options, the popular multi-amenity resort offers:

• 215 guest rooms
• Fabulous spa with innumerable, relaxing treatments;
• Extensive meeting programs encompassing 15,000+ square feet of banquet and meeting space and numerous service options;
• Family and children's activities (horseback riding, paintball, climbing wall, rappelling, whitewater rafting, canoeing and a Scales & Tales animal program by the campfire);
• Corporate team building programs through Western Maryland Adventures;
• Special weddings programs by the lake with both indoor and outdoor settings;
• Beautiful lakeside pavilions.

For every member of the family, and most any occasion, the Rocky Gap Lodge and Golf Resort deserves a look when planning your next family vacation, golf trip, or mom and dad getaway.

Alan L. Hammond is a freelance golf and travel writer.  Contact him through Suite101.com or at his blog, Suite Golf Travel.

Winter Golf and Spa Vacation in Florida

The holiday season is rarely as relaxing as it looks from the viewpoint of July or August.  If you’re looking for a truly relaxing vacation after a hectic holiday season, and activities for the family, consider a visit to The Spa at Plantation, which opened this week, at The Plantation Golf Resort & Spa in Crystal River, Florida.

Plan your vacation to this state-of-the-art spa featuring an extensive menu of facials, Vichy shower body treatments, massage therapy, pedicures, manicures, and a full hair salon. According to The Spa, they are a certified Aveda Concept Salon/Spa, which means the spa exclusively offers 98% plant-derived Aveda hair care, skin care and makeup, in a relaxing and caring environment with an array of services.

In addition to the relaxing services, spa visitors receive access to the resort’s outdoor swimming pool and state of the art fitness center.

The spa is managed by Director Angela Oliverio, an 18 year veteran in the industry who opened her first spa, Abitare’ Paris Salon & Day Spa in 1991. The spa states that in 2007, Abitare’ was named a "Top 200 spa in the United States".

Located on Florida’s Gulf Coast, west of Orlando, The Plantation Golf Resort & Spa, in addition to the spa services, offers 27 holes of championship golf. Golfers of all skill levels will have the option of playing the 18-hole Championship Course, or the nine-hole Lagoons course.

For those travelers combining business and vacation, the resort offers 200 guest rooms and 12,000 square feet of meeting space.

With other activities like scuba diving with manatee, relaxing on a scenic boat tour, enjoying a day of fishing, or a game of tennis, each member of the family will have lots to do at The Plantation Resort & Spa.

Alan L. Hammond is a freelance golf and travel writer.  His work can be easily found at Suite101.com and at his blog, Suite Golf Travel.

Kings Island Theme Park and Golf

One of the most entertaining family getaways is a visit to Paramount's Kings Island, a theme park near Cincinnati, Ohio.  But, the park is only the beginning of the fun.

Recently voted the best theme park in the Midwest for families, Kings Island has something for the whole family. Nickelodeon Universe is for the wee ones and has 18 rides, a Dora the Explorer live show, and a great place to cool off in Sponge Bob's Bikini Bottom Bash.

There are other live shows, tons of rides and great food, but the roller coasters are unequaled.  From the new Firehawk to the old standard that many call the best coaster in the world, The Beast, which is the longest wooden roller coaster in the world.

For the golfers, there's the Golf Center at Kings Island. Featuring two Jack Nicklaus designed courses (the championship Grizzly and the family oriented Bruin), and a state of the art practice facility. The center is open to the public, but has all the feel and amenities of a country club: pro shop, locker room, restaurant, grille, sports bar, as well as meeting and banquet rooms.

A great place to stay near the park and the golf center is the Marriott Cincinnati Northeast.  The hotel is well appointed. The rooms have brand new, large flat-screen TV's, and the beds are the most comfortable ever. The hotel's restaurant staff are also very much in tune to guest needs. Two pools and a fitness room add to the allure of the hotel. The Marriott Northeast is less than five miles from the park.  It's also near all the shopping anyone could ever want to do.

Depending on the time of year, taking in a Cincinnati Reds baseball game or Bengals football game is essential. The park is only about 20 miles from Great American Ballpark, home of the oldest professional baseball team, the Reds, and Paul Brown Stadium, home of the Bengals.  Both parks are something to behold.

Cincinnati has it all. The best part? It's close to Kentucky.

Alan L. Hammond is a freelance golf and travel writer.  His work can be easily found at Suite101.com and at his blog, Suite Golf Travel.

Golf for All Ages

Golf is an old sport that has experienced tremendous growth in the last ten years.  Names like Arnold Palmer and Tiger Woods have become household names, and the golf industry has mushroomed to unprecedented levels.  It is estimated that not long from now Tiger Woods will reach Billionaire status from winnings and endorsements.
Along with the growth in people participating in the sport, the demand for golf related travel has been keeping pace.  Tripwiser's Golf Blog is your window to the most spectacular golf courses, the newest and best spas, resorts, golf trip planning and simply the best quality golf vacations for everyone in the family. Become an insider in the golf travel world and experience the best golf has to offer, right here.